The Truth about Tourette's

The Truth about Tourette's

Aidy Smith has Tourette Syndrome - commonly thought of as a swearing disorder and is on a mission to change people's perceptions of this much misunderstood condition.
Duvet Days

Duvet Days

Abby Hollick gets into bed with a variety of artists, writers, performers and activitists for intimate conversations while sharing a 'duvet day' with them, all for BBC Sounds.
the Plight of the Bumblebee

the Plight of the Bumblebee

One of Britain's most lovable garden insects is in decline, but there are signs that can be reversed.
Known Unto God

Known Unto God

The battlefields of two world wars are still giving up the dead. We follow the process from discovery to a proper re-burial.
Sun, Spoor & Spots - counting Namibia's cheetahs

Sun, Spoor & Spots - counting Namibia's cheetahs

How 'conservation volunteers' are carrying out scientific research to help protect the world's fastest land animal.
Learning to Live Together - Lessons from the Peace Lines

Learning to Live Together - Lessons from the Peace Lines

A series of 5 podcasts-with-pictures about reconciliation and peace-building in Northern Ireland - successes and failures, hopes and fears. A rather different pictures from that usually given by UK news media.
The Bee Inspector

The Bee Inspector

A year in the life of a government Bee Inspector, looking after the health of the nation's vital honeybees.
Farewell Dr Finlay

Farewell Dr Finlay

Dr Margaret McCartney talks to medical historians, like Martin Edwards (pictured) and a range of GPs across Britain to reveal the long and surprising history of general practice in these islands, from the 18th century to the present day
The Silent Epidemic

The Silent Epidemic

Around 250,000 children across south-east Asia drown every year. It's been a hidden problem but now efforts are being taken to tackle it.

about Square Dog Media

Formed as Square Dog Radio LLP in 2007, we have in recent years been trading as Square Dog Media, to reflect the other products and services we offer, in addition to radio production.  These include:

Radio programmes for national BBC Radio networks, and World Service

Podcasting, including for BBC Sounds

Photography and other image services including high-resolution scanning, and digitisation of slides

Website design for various clients, primarily on the Joomla platform

The company is a limited liability partnership (LLP) of Mike Hally and Mark Whitaker, based respectively in Kinross-shire and West Yorkshire, and we work with a wide range of freelance producers, presenters, actors and other artists from across the UK and sometimes beyond.

 

the Truth About Tourette's - Rosa Productions for BBC Radio 4 

Previews: Observer - Pick of the Week; Sunday Times - Pick of the Day; Mail on Sunday - Pick of the Day; Daily Mail & Independent - feature articles

We are delighted to publicise this programme, made by another indie company, Rosa Productions.  Mike Hally has recently been Exec Producer on what turned out to be a fascinating and eye-opening programme that aims to dispel the misconceptions around the condition, and celebrate the achievements of people who have made the most of what the presenter Aidy Smith calls his 'superpower' - the creative brilliance that many with Tourette's display.

  picture credit: John Offord, 2022

The programme was made by producer John Offord, working closely with Aidy, for Rosemary Richards' company, Rosa Productions. Its first transmission is on BBC Radio 4 at 11 am on 31st May 2022, repeated on R4 at 9pm on Monday June 6. The BBC programme page is here. As well as summarising the programme, it will have a listening link after transmission, and it has details of where to find further information about Tourette's.

 

Universal Basic Income - Alaska style!

Aurora Borealis over AlaskaFirst broadcast: BBC Radio 4, 8pm, Tuesday 24th March 2020

Suddenly the idea of a 'Universal Basic Income' is being talked about at the highest levels of many countries, as they struggle to deal with the prospect of milliions of citizens thrown out of work by the coronavirus pandemic.  'UBI' is the idea of giving every member of society a ‘basic income’, as a way of tackling extreme poverty and the loss of jobs caused by economic collapse, automation etc. There have been pilot projects across the world, from India to Finland, from Namibia to Canada: and there is talk of a possible one in the city of Hull here in the UK. So much attention is being paid to ‘the Alaska model’, because the Arctic American state has been paying out an annual dividend to every one of its permanent residents, man, woman and child, for almost 40 years. They don’t have to do anything to get the money, and they can do whatever they like with it.

The money comes from the state’s Permanent Fund, which invests a substantial share of the profits of oil production for the benefit of all its citizens. As a result of this ‘dividend’, arguably a form of Basic Income, its supporters say Alaska is the least unequal state in the whole USA. But in the last three years Alaskan politics has been dominated by an unresolved crisis over the Dividend. The State government has been trying to use money earmarked for the Dividend for other purposes, and many claim that this is illegal. Mark Whitaker reports from Alaska on a unique scheme, explaining its history and asking why it has become so controversial.

The BBC programme page is here

First repeat: BBC Radio 4, 5pm, Sunday 29th March 2020
Presenter and producer: Mark Whitaker
Exec producer and engineer: Mike Hally

 Photo via Good Free Photos - aurora borealis over Alaska

 

postnatal faq logoand another Abby Hollick podcast series - postnatal FAQs

Find these new podcasts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1464910286

Postnatal experts answer your questions. On maternity leave Abby Hollick collected postnatal stories and discovered many women feel that there is a lack of mental and physical support after birth. Abby interviews maternal health professionals including psychologists, an osteopath and a women’s health physio to discuss many of the issues raised, including: the transition to motherhood, birth trauma, anxiety, pelvic health, exercise, back ache and asking for help. Please visit Abby's dedicated website for useful links and to get in touch: www.postnatalfaq.com